Drive-chain.



GEORGE W. WILMo'r, or HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA DRIVE-CHAIN.

Specication o! Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

Application led December 2G, 1912, Serial No. 733,654. Renewed .T une 15, 1914. Serial No. 845,293.

'To'a 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, GEORGE W. WILMQT, u citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hazlet'onv'I county of Luzerne, State of My invention relates to improvements iny drive ,chains of the character yin which the links are detachably connected together by means of removable devices .such as pintles or pivots, and it comprehends the construction andl arrangement of A'parts as hereinaft x fully describedl and as illustrated in ltl s accompanying drawings in which one form of a convenient embodiment of my'invention is illustrated.

In the said drawings z--Figure 1 is a. view partly in plan and partly in horizontal longitudinal Section of a portion of chain embodying my invention; Fig. 2 isa side elevation ofthev same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the adjacent ends of two connected links in position to permit the removal ofthe Connecting device therefrom; and Fig. is aihorizontal section on the line 4 4 of iiviug reference to the drawings-1 designates a link consisting of two members i and b arranged in parallel spaced relationwith respect to each other. The number of links 'l which enter into the construction of a chain varies with the length of the chain and they alternate with links2 the latter being illustrated as consisting of two members c and d; but it will be understood that euch of the links 2 may consist of a single integral member if preferred. Each ol the members a and@ of the link 1 is provided with slots'3 the ends 'of'which are rounded or circular as shown. Intermediate the ends of these slots enlargements 4 are provided for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The portions of the said slots between the enlarged portions 4 and the outer ends thereof are preferably longerl than the v portions thereof upon the opposite sides of the enlarged portions 4.

5 designates a pintle the central portion c of which is circularLsaid portion extending through and occupying slots G'which are formed in the outer ends of the links 2. The said slots G have rounded ends and straight parallel sides. The pintles 5 are each also prorided upon opposite sides o f the circular portion c with elliptical portions f which occupy the slots 3 in the members a and b vo f the link 1. The thickness of these poirtion's. f is substantially equal to the width of the narrower portions of the slots 3 upon opposite sides of the enlarged portions 4 and also substantially equal to the diameter ofthe central portion e of the pintle. This "fact is clearly evident from an inspection of the drawings. The length of the said portions f in ,the direction of their major axes is substantially equal to the width of the enlarged portions 4 of the said slots 3. Each of the pintles 5 upon .their opposite ends are provided with heads 8 ofoblongshape,

shown as being substantially rectangular in outline;- When in use and when the chain is fully extended and under stress the pin-iV tles occupy positions indicated in Figs. l.

and .2 of the drawings 'in' which positions the length of the heads 8 extend transversely of the length of the chain while theelliptical portions f occupy positions-with their major axes parallel with'the length of the links in which they are supported, in which 'Y positions it is impossible for the said pintles" to become accidentally removed to 1permit accidental disconnection of the links. lThis is due to the fact that the opposite ends of the oblongfhieads 8 extend beyond the opposite edges of the outer end portionsof the at right angles to such axes extend in the,

When it is desired to remove a direction of the length of't'he slots 3 and if the adjacent link 2 be maintained in alinement with the link l and the slots G register with the slots 3 the said pintle may be removed. The purpose of providing the extensions of the slot 3 inwardly from the enlarged portions 4 is to permit the elliptical portions f of the pintles to pass beyond the said enlarged portions 4 into the said narrower inwardly extended portions of the said slots in case the said chain should become so slackened that there would be 0pportunity for such movement. In. other words, if the pintles have an opportunity to move from the outer ends of the slots 3 inwardly beyond the enlarged portions 4 invtend of having their movements terminated when they have ehed suoli enlarged portions the;r are not nearly so apt to become accidentally removed or disengaged from the. members a and l) of the links l.

I Claim.:

l. A. chain comprising links consisting of two parallel spaced members having slots in Itheir opposite ends the said slots eaoh having an` enlarged portion intermediate their ends and the portions thereof upon opposite sides of the. said enlarged portions having substantially straight sides, links which alternate with the first named links and which have .their ends interposed between the meiibers of thellatter and which have elongated slotsin their opposite ends, pintles for connecting the'ends of the alternating links, the said pintles respectively having elliptical portions at their opposite end portions vfor engagement with the slots in the parallel spaced mem. ers of the said first mentioned links, and the said pintles each havinggohlong heads at their opposite ends arranged at right angles to the major axes of the said elliptical. portions, substantiall as and for the purpose described.

2. chain comprising linksloonsistin of two parallel. spaced members veach of W ich is provided with slots at its opposite ends, the said slots having an enlarged portion mtermediate, their ends and the said slots terminatinglin rounded ends, links alternating with thel first named linksand hav ing 'their opposite ends situated'between the igend portions of themembers of the adjacent -alternating links and also having elongated slots in their opposite ends, pintles extending through the slots of the overlapped ends ofthe alternating links, the said pintles respectively being provided with circular eentral portions for engagement with the slots of the second named links and having elliptical portions upon the opposite sides of the said enlarged central portions for engagement with .the slots in the members of the first named links and the minor axes of the said elliptic-al portions of the said pintles being of a length substantially equal to the Width of the narrower portions'of th'eslots in the said members, and the major `axes of the said elliptical portions being of a length substantially equal to the Width of the en larged portions of the said slots, and the said' pintles being provided With elongated heads at their o posite ends extending at right angles tot e major axes of the said elliptical portions, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A chain comprising links each of which consists ,of two parallel members spaced apart .and having slots in their opposite ends, the said slots eaph havingan enlarged circular portion intermediate their' ends, links which alternatewith the first named links and which have their 'ends interposed between the members of the latter and which rounded ends of the slots in the sorond 'named links are engaged, and the said pintles respectivel having oblongI portions upon opposite si es of the central pQrtlions, for engagement with the slots. in the ,parallel spaced members of the'lirst mentionedlink's, andl the said pintles each[havingv oblong heads at their opposite ends .arranged at rightangles to the length ofthe said oblong portions, substantially as 'andrfor the purpese described.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as In nayme this 18 day of December, A. D. 1912. f (x )ORGE W. VVILMOT. In the presence of- JOHN J. KELLEY, DAISY TEMPLE.

are provided With longitudinal horizontalinvention, I have hereunto 4signed my` 

